A Brazilian study published in the journal The Lancet – Infectious Diseases shows new evidence that people who have already had Covid-19 and are vaccinated acquire more protection against new symptomatic conditions, hospitalizations and deaths.
The research, conducted by researchers at the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), found that all four vaccines available in the country – Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Coronavac and Janssen – offer significant additional protection for people who have had Covid within up to three months. The evaluation of the immune response began 14 days after the application of the second dose.
Scientists analyzed data from 213,457 people who had symptomatic illness between February 24, 2020 and November 11, 2021.
“Hybrid immunity” – as the immune response acquired via vaccines and infection is called – was better among those vaccinated with Pfizer and AstraZeneca, with 90% protection against hospitalization or death 14 days or more after the second dose. Coronavac presented protection of 81.3% and Janssen of 57.7%.
Vaccine efficacy against symptomatic infection was lower at 64.8% for Pfizer, 56% for AstraZeneca, 44% for Janssen and 39.4% for Coronavac.
“All four vaccines conferred additional protection against symptomatic infections and serious outcomes among individuals with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection. Providing a full range of vaccines to individuals after recovery from Covid-19 can reduce morbidity and mortality,” the study authors wrote in the article published in The Lancet.
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